thin air ? (Flagstaff, Prescott: travel, health, move)

[Roxanne McInerney]

Hi
I went out west by RV last year thru Arizona up to the Grand Canyon (beautiful there around Tuscayan) ,New Mexico ,Nevada and up to on into Utah, Colorado ,so beautiful and very very different from my own very solid green tree packed only rolling hills (old low mountains no tall ones)... Missouri !!! WEST.....VERY BIG SKY COUNTRY!!!!

I liked the WEST so much I am traveling out west again(driving) this fall with 2 friends , but one has emphesema and the other a very bad heart.
One friend said she was afraid to go west because maybe she couldnt breath at the heights out there.
Does anyone know at what height would it be concidered "thin air" or a web site to find that info ?
Missouri (sea level about 500 -900ft) Most western states including Arizona seem to have many spots or a lot of the state 5000-8000 ft. Dont know if it is too high for my friends.

Cant find website to get the info I need on this.

[JayKayEm]

I can only tell you that here in the mountains of Arizona, 5000-6000 ft height, you can surely tell the air is thinner, it is more strenous to hike uphill and so on. Also, I know of several people with heart condition as well as emphysema, that had to move away again because their health couldn't handle the climate here. So be careful...

[Steve-o]

Walk slow, take bigger breaths, etc. Prescott and Flagstaff are decent in height, Id steer clear of those just in case. I wouldnt venture west of Denver either.

[Gretchen B]

Denver and Prescott are both "mile-high" cities. Has your friend been to Denver? If so, did she do okay there?

Also, Flagstaff is at 7,000 ft and I think the Grand Canyon is pretty close to that at the rim.

I know of several folks here in Prescott that really have trouble with the thinner air at the higher elevation.

[Magnum Mike]

I wouldn't rely totally on the answers you get from posters on a forum because nobody here knows your friend's health. This can best be answered by your friend's doctor and nobody else.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

I wouldn't rely totally on the answers you get from posters on a forum because nobody here knows your friend's health. This can best be answered by your friend's doctor and nobody else.

Excellent point, Mike

I don't believe there is one set number for everyone, however, I understand via a couple of friends with breathing issues that "mile high" (5k feet) is a good rule of thumb.

Mile High would be just about anything north of Prescott and definitely NOT The Canyon which is about 8k feet and Flagstaff about 7k feet.

Good Luck, Roxanne

[mortimer]

Bummer had another excellent point:

> I don't believe there is one set number for everyone,
> however, I understand via a couple of friends with
> breathing issues that ... (5k feet) is a good rule of thumb.

Judging from my father - who has emphesema, I'd say a
sensitive person would be bothered at 3,000 ft.

I followed a great thread here that will give you great information:
higher elevations and the elderly

Check it out.

IMO some portable oxygen would be a wise thing to take.